Outdoors

Hot competition on a cold day

Charles Tozier of Bangor (left) leaves his competition in the dust during the 100 meter race at the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games at Sugarloaf in Carrabasset Valley on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. Olympians also competed in skating and skiing races at the 41st annual event. BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BRIDGET BROWN

Molly Berry of Orono (left) gets a hug following her skating race at the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games at Sugarloaf in Carrabasset Valley on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. Olympians also competed in snowshoeing and skiing races at the 41st annual event. BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BRIDGET BROWN

Jake Ring of Bangor competes in a skating event at the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games at Sugarloaf in Carrabasset Valley on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. Olympians also competed in snowshoeing and skiing races at the 41st annual event. BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BRIDGET BROWN

Charles Tozier of Bangor (left), embraces Tony Skidgel after edging out a victory over Skidgel in the 50 meter snowshoe race at the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games at Sugarloaf in Carrabasset Valley on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. Olympians also competed in skating and skiing races at the 41st annual event. BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BRIDGET BROWN

A snowshoe competitor loses a snowshoe and falls during the 100 meter race at the Special Olympics Maine Winter Games at Sugarloaf in Carrabasset Valley on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. Olympians also competed in skating and skiing races at the 41st annual event. BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BRIDGET BROWN

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — On a day when wind-whipped flags snapped and when the mercury dropped to the low teens, Janna Gillespie of Calais admitted that her Special Olympics experience left a bit to be desired.

“I can’t hardly move with all the clothes I’ve got on,” the 30-year-old Calais woman said before taking her turn in the 25-meter snowshoe time trials. “I’m freezing.”

There were plenty of chilly folks among the 800 competitors and volunteers who gathered at Sugarloaf for the 41st annual Special Olympics Maine Winter Games on Monday morning.

Special Olympics Maine defines the Special Olympics program as a year-round athletic training and competition program for people with intellectual disabilities. In Maine more than 3,000 people participate in the program.

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Competitors at Sugarloaf represented more than 80 Maine communities and moved between various venues to compete in specialties including snowshoeing, alpine and cross country skiing and speed skating.

Gillespie took part in the 25-meter and 50-meter snowshoe races, competing for the Frank Beckett Center team. She said the fact that she had to compete was the only thing that lured her out of a warm condo.

“I’m not an early person,” she said. “I wouldn’t get out of bed until 1 o’clock in the afternoon if I didn’t have to.”

And as for the racing … well … Gillespie was nervous, but not overly concerned about how fast she covered the course.

“I’ve got knots in my stomach,” she said, before admitting that she likes to cruise the course at a more casual pace than some other competitors.

“I don’t run. I walk. If you run, you go, ‘thwwt,’ she said, pantomiming a snowshoe racer losing the battle with gravity.

As it turned out, Gillespie did not go “thwwt.” She did walk. And after finishing her 25-meter trial, she said the trip from Calais to Carrabassett Valley was worth it.

“I’m glad to be here,” she said.

Elsewhere at the snowshoe venue, Charles Tozier and his MERT Enterprises teammate, Tony Skidgel, took turns getting competitors fired up for the race and taunting one another.

Trash talking, it seems, is fair game at the Special Olympics (as long as you high-five your opponent before and after the race).

“I am Tony Skidgel and we have the best handicapped team in the world, MERT Enterprises,” the 45-year-old Skidgel said by way of introduction.

Tozier, 38, of Bangor, didn’t debate the merits of Skidgel’s claim, but did disagree with the exact pecking order that Skidgel had in mind.

Over at the speed skating venue, participants in the 800-meter event battled a tough headwind on the backstretch that made a long race seem even longer.

The wind seemed to tire Jake Ring, a 23-year-old athlete representing OHI of Bangor, who fell several times before skating off the track with less than a lap remaining.

After some feverish encouragement from the race starter, teammates and coaches, Ring returned to the rink and finished his race.

Later, he admitted that he had become frustrated.

“I’m not that good a skater,” he said as he warmed up at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center.

Like many athletes, Ring was overly harsh on himself. Before fatigue set in, he did just fine.

Monday was a rough day.

And Tuesday will provide him another chance to show himself — and others — what he’s capable of.

Back at the snowshoe venue, Tozier said he likes the Olympic village atmosphere. He likes the opening ceremonies and the parade of athletes. He likes the fireworks. He even likes the traditional Monday night dance … although he wasn’t sure if he’d be cutting a rug after his busy day.